WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2005. From The Astorino Campaign (EDITED) June 19, 2005: As the New York State Legislature moves closer to adopting legislation that will help pull Westchester Medical Center from the brink of bankruptcy, County Legislator and candidate for county executive Rob Astorino called for a cap on the funds Westchester County should contribute annually in the legislature plan to save the Medical Center from bankruptcy.
“We understand that a major commitment will be required from the county, and that is something that has been woefully lacking from Andy Spano’s administration,” Astorino continued. “Crucial to that commitment is a responsibility to explain to Westchester residents how these various proposals will affect the county’s taxes and finances.”
After carefully reviewing the several proposals being considered, Astorino asked the legislature to consider the following observations prior to enacting a final rescue plan for the Medical Center.
Current proposals do not give Westchester County the cost certainty that it needs. They would force the county to make minimum yearly financial expenditures to the Medical Center that would not be capped. Without a cap the county will never know what it has to set aside in any given year. This would produce chaos for the County budget.
Considering the severe shortcomings of the existing county Financial Improvement Committee, new oversight is needed to stabilize the Medical Center’s finances. However, giving any oversight board the power to transfer existing Medical Center debt to Westchester taxpayers is something we cannot afford. The county must not take on any additional debt from the Medical Center.
According to Astorino, “The Westchester Medical Center is literally the difference between life and death for people living in the Hudson Valley. Figures show that over 40% of its patients come from the 6 counties in the Hudson Valley that lie outside Westchester. If the Medical Center perishes, people who could have lived will die.”
“The Medical Center is vital to New York’s economic health,” Astorino continued. “It generates over one billion dollars in financial transactions throughout the state. But we must not lose sight of the fact that Westchester taxpayers have invested a quarter of a billion dollars to secure its long-term debt. I believe that any plan aimed at improving the financial picture at the Medical Center must abide by certain principles”
Astorino's Guiding Principles for Saving Westchester Medical Center
· The Medical Center must be prevented from going deeper into debt
· Westchester County taxpayers must have cost certainty
· A continuing revenue stream must be created for the hospital within Westchester County
· Significant operational and structural changes must accompany any new infusion of revenues
· An independent outside auditor should issue quarterly reports to ensure the hospital is operating within its economic means
· State should back Medical Center’s capital project bonds
· Medical Center must develop a 10 year plan to retire its long term debt
· Incentives must be provided to ensure participation of other 6 Hudson Valley counties in the rescue plan
· County’s Financial Improvement Committee should be abolished and replaced with a state financial control board
· Future of Maria Ferrari Children’s Hospital and the Medical College must be guaranteed
· Medical Center must be reclassified to ensure it receives maximum Medicaid reimbursement
Astorino said he has already begun to contact members of the state delegation to inform them of his concerns and to delineate his principles designed to safeguard the county and its taxpayers.
The Hawthorne legislator praised the bi-partisan efforts in Albany, lead by State Senator Nick Spano, that would bring additional revenue and changes to the Valhalla facility that are crucial to its long term survival.
“We owe Senator Spano and the rest of the state delegation our gratitude and our suggestions as they continue to develop a rescue plan for the Medical Center”, said Astorino. “The state has demonstrated a clear willingness to help, but before a final plan is adopted, the county must make clear what is acceptable and what is not.”
“People should know that, moving forward, an Astorino administration will abide by these principles,” the candidate said, referring to his specific plan to save the Medical Center. “I will be issuing a detailed plan on Monday that will heal the financial crisis at the Medical Center, but will also provide county taxpayers with the safeguards they deserve.”
The lawmaker said his plan will include a solid and continuing financial commitment from the county and will address structural problems at the Medical Center that have so far been ignored. Details of that plan will be made public on Monday.
